Artist Statement
My inspirations are to be found throughout the remarkable world of plants, from simplest weeds to elaborate horticultural creations, but my favorite subjects are the native plants, fungi and lichens of California. From a childhood spent exploring the wild places of this state to the present time I spend designing and gardening with a wide diversity of plants, I have found an endless supply of botanical subjects to pay homage to through my art. Accuracy and beauty are equally important goals, and I intend my art to serve as a medium through which my chosen subjects can speak, as it were, for themselves, and reveal their exquisite characters to the viewer.

Technique
Working almost exclusively from live specimens, I begin with a sketch, then a detailed pencil rendering on hot-press, acid-free paper. I then apply watercolor, first with small areas of wash, and later with rather dry paint applied with tiny sable brushes to gradually build up color, depth and detail. My pen & ink drawings also are started with a pencil drawing, over which the line and stippling are carefully applied with the smallest available Rapidograph pens. Extraneous pencil can be erased once the paint or ink is completely dry.

As a multifaceted designer and artist, I delve into a myriad of creative avenues, from vibrant gouache paintings and intricate screen prints to the meticulous craftsmanship of intaglio etchings and whimsical miniature sculptures. Infusing each piece with a playful sense of humor, I aim to not only captivate the viewer but also to weave deeper narratives that inspire curiosity and exploration. Drawing inspiration from my love of literature and a penchant for quirky tales, my creations serve as portals to worlds where imagination knows no bounds, inviting audiences to embark on journeys filled with wonder and discovery.

Welcome,

My Name is Brennan Wenck-Reilly and I am a Marin based photographer. Some would say that I have a sleeping problem, but I have grown to accept that my natural sleep pattern is what is called bi-phasic sleeping. While living with my partner in a one-bedroom apartment in SF, It became difficult to simply hang out around the apartment while my partner tried to sleep, thus I was forced to get out and about. Thus I grabbed my camera and started exploring the city at off hours. I really fell in love with this time of the day. It’s easy to fall in love with the solitude, and quietness of the city streets that are normal bustling with people. As I travelled, I expanding this love to being out in nature as well. There’s nothing more exhilarating than stumbling across nocturnal animals doing what they love to do at this time of night. I’ve encountered moose, bears, even porcupines running around in various parts of the world. I use long exposure and lights to emphasize the movement and beauty of the night.

Current projects include lighting up lakes and streams from below using dive lights.

For the past couple of years I have attempted to light up frozen lakes by drilling holes in the ice and dropping flashlights into the water (on a string for retrieval). I have yet to perfect this technique, as timing becomes difficult. There is only a short window when lakes are frozen enough to walk on, yet have no snow on them.

I hope you enjoy my work,

Brennan

Enthralled by nature and the beauty of our surroundings my creative expression began with a journey into macro and abstract photography. I am drawn to essences. The expression is a fluidity.

Over time and turning inward I found a resonance with the tactile medium of encaustic painting (beeswax and damar resin). This ancient (first use over 2000 years ago) fluid layering medium mirrors being in flow, as in water. As such, it is infinitely malleable revealing texture, shape and depth.

Each encaustic piece consists of multiple layers of painting with pigmented wax. The process is to melt the wax on a palette, paint, fuse with heat and repeat the steps, in this way the shapes and textures arise. As a heated and flowing medium I am guided by the colors and the process itself.

As a springboard into curiosity, each piece offers a pause to savor the beauty that surrounds us. I hope you find nourishment.

I collect moments. Moments with people I’ve met, places I’ve been, and things I’ve seen. As an artist with roots in classical realism, it’s important for me to paint moments realistically. But solely painting realism feels incomplete, and it can become a bit too academic for me. It’s not only about the visual recreation that is crucial in my work, but instilling an emotional sensation within my pieces holds an equal amount of relevance. I want to make my audience feel that they are walking down a rainy street, climbing up a sun drenched hill, or sitting in front of a loved one. I want a viewer to feel the moments I collect.

In my work, I find myself breaking free from traditional ways of painting and incorporating much more expressive means. I place highly developed detail next to looser, almost abstract, areas. I’m fascinated with how to combine near photographic rendering alongside the roughness of the palette knife, or the randomness of a loaded brush. This combination of realism and Impressionism techniques creates a natural tension in my paintings, as well as directs where I want the eye to travel. I also create compositions outside of conventional rules and gravitate towards subjects that do not necessarily follow a standard of beauty. There is a bit of provocation in all of this, as I am playing off of and challenging the traditional ways art should be, but it is also an invitation. An encouragement to see what else beauty entails.

Cinnabar Paintings capture the Feng Shui energy of the Universe in every brush stroke and each pigment of paint placed with channeled divine intelligence on the canvas.

Our naked eye cannot see the multiple layers of applied energy behind each work of art. This is created by carefully choosing exact combinations of colors and symbols, painted in significant locations on the canvas layer by layer, with intention, beneath the final painting. Often there are three or more painting beneath the surface. These creations are powerful force that move and harness a concentrated vibrant Feng Shui energy. This energy balances, clears and brings harmony and happiness.

Cinnabar paintings have the ability to lift the chi in a room and hold the vibrational intention created to bring forward what one desires in their life.

As you meet each Feng Shui painting listen carefully and hear what they have to say to you. They are speaking to you.

For years I have hiked the hills of southern Marin…Tennessee Valley, Mount Tamalpais, Tiburon and have enjoyed the spectacular views. Always feeling awe-inspired…then one day I fell upon a group of en pleinair artists….. I joined this southern Marin pleinair group. And from that day forward …. my world changed. I’ve been pursuing a life long dream to capture the outdoor beauty I call home.

Elizabeth Brennan started Park Road Studios in 2022—a beautiful space for ceramicists, sculptors, and painters.

I invite you to immerse yourself in the color, texture, and imagery of my art. In art, there are no rules…. How liberating! My work is a celebration of play, wonder, curiosity, experimentation, and discovery. Each piece is a testament to playful experimentation and the mystery of creativity.

My journey in art began in childhood ….Later in life, I began abstract painting thinking of creating art that would complement real estate interiors and align with my career as a real estate stager. Creating art for interior spaces fueled my inspiration to make more art, and soon I felt a compelling urge to return to the studio purely for the joy of it. My art is always created with the intention of being displayed in living spaces, ensuring that it harmonizes with and enhances its surroundings. To my surprise, this approach has not only fueled my creativity but also deepened my appreciation for the connection between art and interior design.

Inspired by my California roots, love of design, nature, and the written word, my creations reflect my journey through various creative processes. From acrylic paint and gel crayons to the layers and textures of recycled materials, each element is chosen to evoke a sense of wonder and connection.

I hope, when viewing my work, that you find yourself immersed in a world of abstract collages and bricolage. My goal is to create a space where viewers can pause, reflect, and engage with the art on a personal level. Whether it is a fleeting moment of joy or a deeper contemplation, I want each piece to resonate with you in a unique way. I hope you enjoy the journey. I love hearing what others see in a piece—it is different and fascinating for everyone.

Using photography as a primary form of artistic expression, I discovered a passion for nature photography and illuminating the hidden world for the viewer. I organize my pictures into thoughtful documented series to promote environmental awareness through aesthetic perceptions and interpretations of hierarchy of genres.

My distinct post-processing techniques are used to preserve the authenticity of the subject and scene. This artistic journey seeks to arouse the senses while highlighting the compelling stories that take place in the ordinary world. Each process is inspired by the subject itself and what will best portrait its fundamental essence.

I work on paper or canvas freely with different media, free from limit of subjects, a free playful style combine impressionism, expressionism, cubism fauvism ideas.